Exhibit 5.4
[LETTERHEAD OF RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.]
February 1, 2002
Banknorth Capital Trust IV
c/o Banknorth Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 9540
Two Portland Square
Portland, Maine 04112-9540
Re: Banknorth Capital Trust IV
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Banknorth Group,
Inc., a Maine corporation (the "Company"), and Banknorth Capital Trust IV, a
Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth
herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated as of January
31, 2002 (the "Certificate"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on January 31, 2002;
(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of January 31,
2002, among the Company, as Sponsor, and the trustees of the Trust named
therein;
(c) The Registration Statement on Form S-3, including a
prospectus (the "Prospectus"), relating to the capital securities of the Trust
representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
(each, a "Capital Security" and collectively, the "Capital Securities"), as
proposed to be filed by the Company, the Trust and others as set forth therein
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about February 1, 2002 (the
"Registration Statement");
Banknorth Capital Trust IV
February 1, 2002
Page 2
(d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust, to be entered into among the Company, as Sponsor, the trustees of the
Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits A and B thereto) (the
"Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and
(e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated
February 1, 2002, obtained from the Secretary of State.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are
used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any
documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above.
In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents
listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above) that is referred to in or
incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed
that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is
inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent
factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the
foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the
additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be
true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed
(i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals,
(ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as
copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the
Trust Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not
been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due
creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid
existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under
the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation,
(iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents
examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us
has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its
obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and
delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the
receipt by each Person to whom a Capital Security is to be issued by the Trust
(collectively, the "Capital Security Holders") of an interest in the Capital
Securities Certificate for such Capital Security and the payment for the
interest in the Capital Security acquired by it, in accordance with the Trust
Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (vii) that the Capital Securities
Banknorth Capital Trust IV
February 1, 2002
Page 3
are issued and sold in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration
Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware
(excluding the securities laws and blue sky laws of the State of Delaware), and
we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other
jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto.
Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules,
regulations and orders thereunder that are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such
questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered
necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications,
limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
8. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in
good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del.
C.Section 3801, et seq.).
9. The Capital Securities will represent valid and, subject to
the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
10. The Capital Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the
Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Capital Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In
addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity
of Securities" in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not
thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Except as
stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be
furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.